Some Of Earth’s Critically Endangered Species

Earth has an incredible 30 million animal species, but sadly some of these are at risk of extinction. The reasons for their inclusion on the endangered species list vary, from loss of habitat, man’s desire for fur or because they are a source of food. Here are just some of the most vulnerable and endangered species as of 2018:

The Amur Leopard

This rare creature is only found in the Primorye region of northern Russia. The leopard lives in the snowy, icy conditions in this one region, at one time being found in China and Korea too. They disappeared from these two countries and now only around 20 Amur leopards are left in existence in Russia today.

The Javan Rhinoceros

This rhino is another animal that tops the endangered list. There are around 40-60 of these animals left, living in the Ujung Kulon National Park of Indonesia. Its numbers declined so drastically due to hunting for its horn. Why not immortalise a precious animal with a Bronze Animal Sculpture? Bronze Animal Sculptures by Gill Parker are stunning, majestic and incredibly life-like.

The Lemur

Although lemurs don’t appear on the critically endangered list, all of the over 100 different lemur species are in decline. Lemurs are found only on Madagascar, an island off the southeast coast of Africa. There are very few remaining of any species in the wild, which is terribly sad.

The Black Rhinoceros

Tragically, once the last remaining black rhino dies, the species will be lost forever. They are seriously endangered, with only a few thousand animals left. Reasons for their drastic decline include relentless poaching for their horns and climate change.

The Leatherback Sea Turtle

These are the largest turtles on earth and found mostly in the tropics. There used to be more than 120,000 females but that figure has dropped to just 20,000 and continues to go down year on year. Extinction threatens this species due to human interference, egg theft and illegal hunting.

The Mountain Gorilla

Perhaps just over 400 of these majestic beasts remain. As a result of their behaviour being seen as aggressive, people began hunting them for what they believed was the safety of people. Despite many efforts to conserve and protect the species, poachers still go after them and their population remains under threat.

The Siberian Tiger

This majestic cat is the largest cat in the world, weighing up to 650 pounds. Their habitat includes the forests of Russia, Far East China and Korea. Hunting is the leading cause for the demise of this beautiful animal. They are protected, and it is illegal to hunt a Siberian Tiger as there is now only a population of around 500.

The Giant Chinese Salamander

As the name suggests, this is the biggest amphibian in the world, growing to be up to 6 feet long. They live in the wooded areas of China, laying up to 500 eggs in one go in burrows underwater. Their numbers are in decline as the salamander is a food source in China.